Advice needed - translate story into French?

[Ada Stuart]

Hi

I've just received this request which puzzles me (I've removed his name):

"Hello, I dare to contact you to ask for authorization.
I, too, write on a French-language site called Revebebe, under the pseudonym of....

While browsing the pages of the site «litérotica» I came across one of your writings, called «the changing rooms», published on June 21, 2019.

Would you be willing for me to translate your text for publication, noting that it is inspired by yours?"

What would you do? Would you allow it?

If I understand it correctly, he wants to translate my story and publish it in his own name. I wasn't sure that was allowed?

Ada

 

[SimonDoom]

Hi

I've just received this request which puzzles me (I've removed his name):

"Hello, I dare to contact you to ask for authorization.
I, too, write on a French-language site called Revebebe, under the pseudonym of....

While browsing the pages of the site «litérotica» I came across one of your writings, called «the changing rooms», published on June 21, 2019.

Would you be willing for me to translate your text for publication, noting that it is inspired by yours?"

What would you do? Would you allow it?

If I understand it correctly, he wants to translate my story and publish it in his own name. I wasn't sure that was allowed?

Ada

It wouldn't be allowed without your permission. Why don't you ask him what he means, and if you consent make sure he agrees that he will credit you as the original author of the story, with himself as the translator only.

 

[NotWise]

If I understand it correctly, he wants to translate my story and publish it in his own name. I wasn't sure that was allowed?

It's entirely up to you. Personally, I wouldn't let him publish my story under his name. I've translated technical articles and (with the author's permission) made them available to English readers, but I've never claimed authorship for those articles.

If he wants to write something that actually is inspired by your story, rather than copied from yours, then that's something else. He wouldn't even need permission for that.

 

[Ada Stuart]

It wouldn't be allowed without your permission. Why don't you ask him what he means, and if you consent make sure he agrees that he will credit you as the original author of the story, with himself as the translator only.

Thanks for the advice, Simon I will do that.

Ada

 

[Tio_Narratore]

Simon's advice is good. I would add that, if you haven't yet, check him out thoroughly on the site he references. And do note that his English usage has some problems; this could become a major issue in une traduction â français.

 

[Ada Stuart]

Simon's advice is good. I would add that, if you haven't yet, check him out thoroughly on the site he references. And do note that his English usage has some problems; this could become a major issue in une traduction â français.

Thanks Tio! I didn't think of that. I'll give it a try, although my French is a bit rusty

 

[Tio_Narratore]

Thanks Tio! I didn't think of that. I'll give it a try, although my French is a bit rusty

Don't you mean rouillé? Bonne chance, cherie!

Do beware of Google Translate:

The Sound of Silence?

 

[ThisNameIsntTakenYet]

While the importance of his English skills regarding his ability to translate your story into French has already been mentioned, I'd also be worried about the quality of his own writing. Of course this can be hard to verify if you don't speak fluent French yourself, but if his general writing skill isn't too impressive, it might actually damage your reputation as a writer. After all, for the French readers it might be hard to tell if the original was bad and that was all he had to work with, or if the translator just isn't very good at writing.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

Yes. I had a student once who did poorly on an essay, and asked if he could write his essays in French, as that was his first language. I agreed, and then couldn't make sense out of his next submission. I brought it to the French Department for help, but they couldn't make sense of it either.

 

[KeithD]

I've had requests to translate my stories in German, both for Literotica and another Web site. So, it happens. (Yes, I permitted it.)

 

[SimonDoom]

While the importance of his English skills regarding his ability to translate your story into French has already been mentioned, I'd also be worried about the quality of his own writing. Of course this can be hard to verify if you don't speak fluent French yourself, but if his general writing skill isn't too impressive, it might actually damage your reputation as a writer. After all, for the French readers it might be hard to tell if the original was bad and that was all he had to work with, or if the translator just isn't very good at writing.

Whether or not this is a factor really depends on the circumstances. In my case, for example, I have no reputation to damage among French speakers, because I don't publish anything in French or on any other site. I can't see how it would hurt me if someone translated a story of mine into French, published it somewhere else, and botched the job. But others might have different situations. As long as I got credit for the original story, I'd probably say yes even though I don't speak or read French and wouldn't know whether it was a decent translation or not.

 

[Ada Stuart]

It's entirely up to you. Personally, I wouldn't let him publish my story under his name. I've translated technical articles and (with the author's permission) made them available to English readers, but I've never claimed authorship for those articles.

If he wants to write something that actually is inspired by your story, rather than copied from yours, then that's something else. He wouldn't even need permission for that.

Thanks, NotWise and Taken! My gut feeling tells me that would be the way forward

And Tio, (sigh) I wish I could write in French. It's a beautiful language

Unfortunately there's only room for two languages in my head

 

[ThisNameIsntTakenYet]

Whether or not this is a factor really depends on the circumstances. In my case, for example, I have no reputation to damage among French speakers, because I don't publish anything in French or on any other site. I can't see how it would hurt me if someone translated a story of mine into French, published it somewhere else, and botched the job. But others might have different situations. As long as I got credit for the original story, I'd probably say yes even though I don't speak or read French and wouldn't know whether it was a decent translation or not.

My issue was more so name recognition. Maybe they read both French and English erotica. Perhaps they come across one of your stories on Lit later. If their only prior experience with your work is the badly translated one, they probably won't be interested in reading your other work, costing you some potential readers. (although they might want to check out the original to see if the quality differs from the translated story).

 

[Tio_Narratore]

Thanks, NotWise and Taken! My gut feeling tells me that would be the way forward

And Tio, (sigh) I wish I could write in French. It's a beautiful language

Unfortunately there's only room for two languages in my head

There is much more room. Most Europeans know at least three, and any self-respecting New Guinean knows five.

Writing well in more than one is much more difficult, though, I will grant.

 

[Ada Stuart]

Whether or not this is a factor really depends on the circumstances. In my case, for example, I have no reputation to damage among French speakers, because I don't publish anything in French or on any other site. I can't see how it would hurt me if someone translated a story of mine into French, published it somewhere else, and botched the job. But others might have different situations. As long as I got credit for the original story, I'd probably say yes even though I don't speak or read French and wouldn't know whether it was a decent translation or not.

Interesting point, Simon!

I can safely say that I will never be able to translate it myself

 

[ThisNameIsntTakenYet]

There is much more room. Most Europeans know at least three, and any self-respecting New Guinean knows five.

Writing well in more than one is much more difficult, though, I will grant.

Can confirm. I speak Dutch, English and am able to understand German somewhat, at least enough to get the gist of what someone is saying. Speaking it is a bit more difficult though. I'm somewhat out of practice but last time I was in Germany I was able to at least communicate effectively, if not elegantly.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

I'm good in English and, to a somewhat lesser extent, in French. I can read German quite well, and can plug through Spanish and Italian. I can speak all three at the tourist level. My children are much better, graduate level fluency in at least three languages each, plus basics in a handful of others.

 

[Hypoxia]

A James Thurber anecdote: A fan at a party told Thurber he loved his work, especially the French translations. Thurber replied, "Yes, I lose something in the original." Maybe the OP's work will improve with translation. Bon chance!

 

[Ada Stuart]

I've had requests to translate my stories in German, both for Literotica and another Web site. So, it happens. (Yes, I permitted it.)

Thanks, KeithD! If you dare to permit it, I'm much more inclined to give it a try

And as Simon says, I don't have a reputation to damage in French

 

[Ada Stuart]

A James Thurber anecdote: A fan at a party told Thurber he loved his work, especially the French translations. Thurber replied, "Yes, I lose something in the original." Maybe the OP's work will improve with translation. Bon chance!

Good thinking! I really hope so

 

[Ada Stuart]

I'm good in English and, to a somewhat lesser extent, in French. I can read German quite well, and can plug through Spanish and Italian. I can speak all three at the tourist level. My children are much better, graduate level fluency in at least three languages each, plus basics in a handful of others.

Tio and Taken,

You two are in a different league, I'm afraid

I'm also European, but it's a struggle to get rid of the Norwegian (both old and new).

So for languages, it's still only room for two. Unless Java, Fortran and SQL counts

 

[QuillandInk]

Can confirm. I speak Dutch, English and am able to understand German somewhat, at least enough to get the gist of what someone is saying. Speaking it is a bit more difficult though. I'm somewhat out of practice but last time I was in Germany I was able to at least communicate effectively, if not elegantly.

Same here, though I'm from South Africa so for me its Afrikaans, English and enough Zulu and Sotho to get by and know if I'm being cussed at.

 

[Hypoxia]

HEY JUDE translated into a flow chart. Some stories could survive similar treatment, hey? X meets Y. Y fucks X. Repeat as needed.

 

[Ada Stuart]

Thanks everyone

Thanks everyone, for your insights and recommendations!

I really appreciate it!

And, I've made the decision: It will be translated into French.

I've asked for a copy, though - it's about time to refresh my school French

 

[colddiesel]

Languages are weird. My first spoken language is Gaelic, I can go years without meeting a fellow speaker but after a day or two when I go home it comes back - a bit clumsy at first but within a week it's as though I never left. I would struggle writing anything as I never learned the spelling as a kid - and the demand for translators is pretty non-existent.

Tio referred to PNG (Papua New Guinea) I think I am right in saying that this country of less than 4 million people has 25% of the world's languages. Makes the place almost ungovernable.